Coronavirus has hit independent businesses hard since March and many business owners have moved their businesses online and have become a great success.
Clare, the owner of the bakery store, Custom Bakes, had to completely reconfigure her business after the first lockdown in March of this year, and has paid off massively for her business. Custom Bakes in Lincoln bakes brownies, cookies, blondies, and custom-made cakes for customers in and around the UK.
Clare said: “I have never been busier. When all the venues closed who I supply wholesale cakes and traybakes, so I didn’t have a business anymore, so I opened an online shop and sell from there each week.
“I needed to think about my future and what could I do post-pandemic. I always wanted an online shop and when covid-29 hit, I was able to truly re-evaluate where I was at with my business and where I wanted to be in the future.”
Boris Johnson announced the month-long national lockdown over November. Clare was able to continue running her business as usual. However, her in-person pop-up shops where she previously sold her goods had to be closed.
When the lockdown was announced, she said: “It wasn’t the news we were hoping for but it’s business as usual for Custom Bakes. Sending out as much love to all outlet friends and local businesses.”
Clare sells a number of treat boxes which include cookie-sharing trays, cookie pie slices, and brownie bombs. She said: “My treat boxes are limited to 100 a week and they always sell out; I’ve had phenomenal support from my customers.
“It was very tough at the start of all this, but I did it and I couldn’t be happier.”
The UK’s national lockdown ends on December 3; however, Lincoln will be placed into Tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions, the toughest of them all.